@ school thread - COVID

[killercupcake]

Kids go back august 9.

As of right now, employees are required to mask until at least august 17 but that could be extended. Kids are optional.

Distance learning was left up to each individual school to offer. We had some kids express interest but I don’t know what’s happening with it just yet. I go back to work Monday, so I’m sure I’ll find out the.

[eddy]

Online is an option in our district. We went in person last year so of course will do the same.

Our governor made it illegal to require masks.

My oldest is fully vaccinated. I am fine with him not wearing a mask and I doubt he would elect to on his own. He was so happy to get rid of it after vaccination.

My youngest I will send with a mask. He is unvaccinated. There was a huge shift from school year to summer camp at his school. We went from like 100% mask compliance to no kids wearing them. I don’t know what the school year will bring.

[rootbeerfloat]

They go back in a couple of weeks. There is a virtual option, which requires a commitment for at least the semester, will be asynchronous, and (for HS) limits options for electives, so they will attend in-person. 9th grader is vaccinated, but the 6th grader isn't yet (turns 12 in October). Masks are required for both MS and HS.

[huskymom]

We are going back full time in person end of august (my kids were last year but we had virtual options). They offered a virtual option for the upcoming year that they wanted people to commit to in May and only 40 or so kids did across grades K-6 (we usually have graduating classes of 500+). I would assume we will have mandatory masking in K-6 (CT) but we will see…

[ilikedonuts]

Ours took away the district virtual option, but said they’ll help people find another non district virtual option. And currently says no masks. I’m looking at other virtual options for my kids.

[meowmaps]

I’m sending my toddler to preschool for the first time this fall. I don’t know what their plan is to keep the kids safe. The director is going to call me tomorrow to discuss. I know she’s vigilant based on a previous conversation so we’ll see what she has to say about masks in the classroom.

I also started to google some potential alternatives that offer outdoors-only options and found something nearby. I contacted the director to express interest and find out more but I haven’t heard back yet. I doubt we’ll be able to get in. I’m sure we’re not the only ones clamoring for alternatives.

tacom Thank you for giving me the idea to look up outdoor preschools!

Update: When I spoke to the director she told me they’ve decreased the class size by five slots (11 students vs. 16), teachers are vaccinated and masked, and all kids are required to wear masks. I just bought a dozen new masks for DD that should fit more snugly around her nose. I’m still open to an outdoor preschool and am currently in touch with one in case we want to make a switch. We drove by it today and weren’t overly impressed with the facilities. Unless we learn something like they’re doing major work between now and September, I think we’ll stick with where we’re currently registered and hope for the best.

[cayl]

We go back in 5 weeks (in CT). I'm one of the PTO presidents for this coming year and we had a meeting with our principal last week. She tends to be overly optimistic, but she told us to plan for pre-COVID life, but with masks added in. She's anticipating the kids (elementary school) wearing masks, but said she thinks the older schools will be able to be mask free if they're vaccinated. I asked if the district will be requiring proof of vaccination and she had no idea. She said none of that has been discussed yet, which kind of surprised me, but since recommendations change basically daily it makes sense.

She still doesn't even know how many classes she needs for each grade. Our kindergarten class is going up to 6 classes when we normally have 4 or 5 because of a) how many people held their kids out last year and b) how many new people moved into the district. Every single grade has a bunch more kids. The principal has something in her contract stating she'll get a stipend if enrollment goes over 500 - we're up to 648.

[brooklyn]

My 2 year old is starting a 2’s program in the fall in NJ. He’s currently in camp there. Masks required at both thankfully and he wears it without complaint.

My 8 year old is going to be the new kid at the local Catholic school in our new town. They required masks last year, and I’m praying they do next year too since all virtual options were taken away from us, and my kid really needs in person interactions this year.

[TamiTaylor]

Back 8/23. No virtual and no masks. Also no extra funding for TEA’s accelerated instruction mandate. 🖕you Mike Morath and TEA.

[erbear]

Private school near philly. We are going back full time in person, no remote option (we were open in person last year but there was a remote choice). I predict masks will be required for anyone unvaccinated and possibly for everyone. Most eligible teachers and students are vaxxed.

[mustardseed2007]

We go to a Pk-8th private school and last year we ended with masks required inside but not outside. No one was required to get vaccinated but I think all the teachers did and most of the middle school if not all. 

I suspect we will start the year the same. Masks inside but not outside. But I think if anything it will go stricter (masks inside and out) and not less strict. But it's just a guess. We should get guidance soon.  

Meanwhile, in public school, schools are not allowed to require masks due to the governor order (Texas). Additionally, a nearby school district just announced that they will not require covid positive students to stay home from school if they have covid unless they also have a fever. In which event they will be excluded until they are 24 hours fever free. They stated that the TEA guidance does not permit them to exclude kids who have an active case of COVID. But they strongly encourage parents to keep them home and they will continue to report positive cases to the health department, which I mean....I guess we will be able to see when it all goes horribly wrong? 

I hope for the sake of my city that no other school districts interpret the TEA guidance that way or the TEA updates their guidance.... 

[abs]

mustardseed2007, that school district reversed their decision. There is an article in the Chronicle about all the issues and how they came to that conclusion. Honestly I don't blame them. There just isn't a ton districts can do thanks to Abbott. Apparently according to the DSHS Covid isn't on the excused absence list but should be soon. Most of the districts are waiting for more guidance from the TEA on how to handle this.

[fancynewbeesly]

We are in NJ.

Our governor said that schools can not offer a virtual option. There are no state virtual option. So literally choices are: public, private or homeschool.

Also he was quoted this week that he is recommending no masks in school. He said it may change by September but as of now no masks (however districts can do there own thing)

So I am very very worried about September.

[klassygoosey]

It's a common misconception especially with unpopular policy. But the students and staff wearing or not wearing masks has nothing to do with teachers or teachers unions. If you don't like the rule, please don't blame people who aren't involved in those decisions. Much higher paid, out of the classroom admin make those decisions. Please bring your complaints/concerns to the right people.

[maudefindlay]

Jul 23, 2021 6:54:13 GMT -5 klassygoosey said:

It's a common misconception especially with unpopular policy. But the students and staff wearing or not wearing masks has nothing to do with teachers or teachers unions. If you don't like the rule, please don't blame people who aren't involved in those decisions. Much higher paid, out of the classroom admin make those decisions. Please bring your complaints/concerns to the right people.

It varies place to place. Some it isn't admin, our school board made our decision.

[klassygoosey]

still not teachers or their union, school board is just another form of well compensated not in the classroom admin IMO

Jul 23, 2021 7:30:15 GMT -5 maudefindlay said:

Jul 23, 2021 6:54:13 GMT -5 klassygoosey said:

It's a common misconception especially with unpopular policy. But the students and staff wearing or not wearing masks has nothing to do with teachers or teachers unions. If you don't like the rule, please don't blame people who aren't involved in those decisions. Much higher paid, out of the classroom admin make those decisions. Please bring your complaints/concerns to the right people.

It varies place to place. Some it isn't admin, our school board made our decision.

[maudefindlay]

Jul 23, 2021 7:33:57 GMT -5 klassygoosey said:

still not teachers or their union, school board is just another form of well compensated not in the classroom admin IMO

Jul 23, 2021 7:30:15 GMT -5 maudefindlay said:

It varies place to place. Some it isn't admin, our school board made our decision.

Again this is area dependent and I shared what is done in my area which is different and our school board is not paid, so while you are correct teachers do not make these decisions, it is not always a high paid elite group deciding either. Our school board is a mix of society from doctors, to a house wife, a mechanic etc.

[klassygoosey]

and not a teacher or anyone with classroom experience among them

Jul 23, 2021 7:45:14 GMT -5 maudefindlay said:

Jul 23, 2021 7:33:57 GMT -5 klassygoosey said:

still not teachers or their union, school board is just another form of well compensated not in the classroom admin IMO

Again this is area dependent and I shared what is done in my area which is different and our school board is not paid, so while you are correct teachers do not make these decisions, it is not always a high paid elite group deciding either. Our school board is a mix of society from doctors, to a house wife, a mechanic etc.

[maudefindlay]

Jul 23, 2021 7:59:51 GMT -5 klassygoosey said:

and not a teacher or anyone with classroom experience among them

Jul 23, 2021 7:45:14 GMT -5 maudefindlay said:

Again this is area dependent and I shared what is done in my area which is different and our school board is not paid, so while you are correct teachers do not make these decisions, it is not always a high paid elite group deciding either. Our school board is a mix of society from doctors, to a house wife, a mechanic etc.

Sure there are. I know one is a former TA and one is a current professor at a community College with prior history of teaching middle and high school.

[TamiTaylor]

Jul 23, 2021 6:42:58 GMT -5 abs said:

mustardseed2007, that school district reversed their decision. There is an article in the Chronicle about all the issues and how they came to that conclusion. Honestly I don't blame them. There just isn't a ton districts can do thanks to Abbott. Apparently according to the DSHS Covid isn't on the excused absence list but should be soon. Most of the districts are waiting for more guidance from the TEA on how to handle this.

It’s late July. Some schools are starting in the first few weeks of August. TEA should have already given the guidance. It’s a freaking joke and a mess.

[RoxMonster]

I go back as a teacher mid August. I’m pretty sure masks will be optional (there was a board meeting about this week while I was on vacation so I didn’t watch but that’s what the super was proposing and I’m sure it passed). Last year we were already in five full days a week with zero distancing, only masks, so this year will be back to “normal.” Our state is only requiring remote Ed for students in health department required quarantines.

I am pretty worried. The county where I teach has very low vax numbers. And of course no one under 12 can even have it yet. But I foresee hardly at masks. Also many areas in my state are back up to almost 8% positivity again.

IL (my state) just had a huge outbreak this summer at a youth camp where masks weren’t required so I envision that happening in schools now.

[maudefindlay]

RoxMonster I'm your neighbor in IN and I do believe an outbreak is what will have to happen for masks to be required in the under 12 age group. I do think despite the general hatred for masks in our states that schools will require them again before going all virtual.

[Doggy Mommy]

Full time in person, masks "highly encouraged" for those 11 and younger, and for those 12 and up who aren't vaccinated, but not required. Communication from the district says that these decisions were made considering our county's 71% vaccination rate. The vaccination rate for ages 12-15 is only 49% though, so I hope that continues to go up. I don't see this changing unless there's a huge outbreak. There was also language in the communication about mask shaming not being tolerated. ETA: There is an online option as well.

[sdlaura]

I'm just really glad that the debate where I live (SoCal) seems to still be focused on mask wearing (with some parents advocating against masks) and not other interventions that would have the kids in school less time. I'm going to lose it if there's not an option for full-time in-person school this year for my kids going into 2nd and 4th. 

In terms of masks, whatever my personal feelings/interpretation of the research, I know lots of parents who wouldn't feel comfortable with their kids in school without masks being required. And my priority is more in-person school for as many kids as possible to cut down on inequality, mental health issues, challenges for teachers trying to teach across multiple platforms at the same time, etc. So for those reasons, I'm all for masks for kids too young to be vaccinated and their teachers/staff, which is going to be the rule here.

[sdlaura]

Jul 22, 2021 12:31:58 GMT -5 game blouses said:

Anecdote: My youngest had a Covid scare at his school-setting camp last week (a kid in his class tested positive). DS had been hanging out with this kid a lot, indoors and outdoors, every day. Camp required masks and social distancing, but kids still ate lunch there.

Everyone at the camp had to be tested before they were allowed to come back. NO ONE (besides the original kid) tested positive. DS did have to quarantine anyway because of his close exposure.

All that to say, masks in school work, because DS should have absolutely gotten it from this kid based on how close they were.

I'm in CA so I'm pretty sure masks will be mandatory at least indoors. I know our district is eliminating the virtual option and most, if not all, families who chose to homeschool are coming back. But even if masks aren't required, I'm requiring my kids to wear them because (see above).

game blouses , another explanation might be that often little kids don't seem to be very efficient COVID spreaders, masks or not. My pre-schooler had a little girl in his preschool class who was symptomatic enough that she got sent home and told to test, and was positive. These kids don't wear masks, and are eating and napping together, indoors and outdoors. Everyone tested multiple times and no one else got it in that situation either. I think masks are awesome, but I think this could be part of it, too.

[TamiTaylor]

The 2nd largest school district in San Antonio has announced that they will not report COVID cases to parents/public or require quarantines.

[penguingrrl]

We go back after Labor Day. The district proudly announced the last day of school in June that there will be 5 full days, no masks, no distancing, 2019 schooling. No remote option for anyone.

To say I’m livid is an understatement. My son is too young to be vaccinated and my husband is immunocompromised. Our district is full of asshole unmask our kids bullshit and the district caved instead of protecting those who need protection. I truly don’t know what we’ll do. H and I both work full time and neither of us is a trained teacher, we count on public school and don’t have enough money to pay for private school, nor the patience, skills or time to consider homeschooling (absolutely a non starter, I chose not to go into teaching very deliberately, as did he).

[JayhawkGirl]

Rant ahead
We are two weeks into “mild” cases of Covid here, caught from vaccinated family who thought they had allergies. We see nobody else indoors, only my parents and my sister’s family do four. My kids are the only unvaccinated because of their ages.

Seven of ten of us - all vaccinated except my two - became positive. Six are symptomatic, as in we were barely awake for a week, big coughs, headaches and did I mention the fatigue? The seventh says they’re asymptomatic, except all the allergy congestion they had the week before we had our dinner. Likely our index case.

Yesterday, day 13 of symptoms, both of my kids had chest X-rays to make sure their worsening coughs weren’t Covid pneumonia. My seven year old coughs non stop for spells several times a day. She can barely talk through the non stop hacking cough. My eleven year old coughs this deep, room shaking cough.

“Mild” cases.

My healthy, active 11.5 year old had 96% o2 and heart rate over 100 last Saturday into Sunday. But you don’t call the hospital until it’s under 95%.

“Mild” cases.

Two weeks of this. DH & I saw improvement at day 7/8, but then the worsening coughs set in for the kids. Because, you know, they’re unvaccinated and we are in the heart of the delta outbreak. DH and I feel mostly normal, but now he has lost his sense of smell. Our energy isn’t fully back.

This has not resembled the “barely a cold” version classmates described of their and their kids’ cases last year.

They both now have inhalers that I pray are temporary. My own asthma is a souvenir of the pneumonia I had when I was 15.

My school district has decided to do nothing beyond “strongly encourage” masks in absence of a mandate from the county, state or federal level. County has said it’s up to you, school boards. School board has said it’s up to you, superintendent. Superintendent has said the county/state/fed hasn’t told me to do anything so I can’t.

These “Mild” castes would have kept them out of school for 2+ weeks, and the first day we could have considered doing some work at home would be this coming Monday. This will be such a disruptive learning year, and so much of that is preventable.

We - rightfully so - protect peanut allergies in the classroom & lunchroom. We protect their health. It’s the right thing to do. If a parent chooses to send pb&j for snack with a doctor’s exemption letter are we going to just say ok? Why should I dare to be inconvenienced for the sake of others? My kid my choice right? Let me go find a doctor who will say public health be dammed, here kid, all that matters is what you want.

We - rightfully so - don’t let a student vomit then stay in class. We protect their health and that of the people around them. It’s the right thing to do. If a parent gets an exemption letter saying kiddo stays, puke doesn’t matter, are we going to just accept it? Because it sure sounds like the mask fighters have arranged a network of doctors who will write notes saying whatever parents want.

Indoor transmission from vaccinated adults gave my kids Covid. This is the world I’ve lived, while sick myself, the last two weeks with “mild” cases. Covid mild just means you didn’t get admitted to the hospital. This argument that kids aren’t hospitalized or dying is bullshit. There is so much more to it. And this delta variant isn’t messing around. They’re saying one person can infect 6 more. We are literally that statistic in my family. Ten people, all 8 who could be vaccinated were, and seven of us are positive. The unvaccinated kids are having the harder and longer cases. They were actively playing, running and swimming for 10+ hours a day in the weeks leading up to this. Last week they needed naps from their showers.

[maudefindlay]

JayhawkGirl I hope you all get relief and resolved symptoms very soon. That sounds miserable and scary.

[abs]

JayhawkGirl I'm really sorry. Freaking Covid. I hope you all get some relief soon and that your kids feel better ASAP.